Apparatus for liquid treatment of warps of closely spaced parallel rayon threads



H. A. SCHRENK 2,674,113 APPARATUS FOR LIQ TR TMENT OF WARPS OF CLOSELY SPACED AL L RAYON THREADS Filed June 11. 1952 April 6; 1954 N I I INVENTOR lmiA/wzizJa/Ereal ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1954 APPARATUS 'FOR- LIQUID TREATMENT OF WARPS OF CLOSELY SPACED PARALLEL RAYON- THREADS Hans Alwin Schrenk, Arnhem, Netherlands, as-

signor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., a. corporation of Delaware Application June 11, 19/52, Serial No. 292,920

Claims priority, application Netherlands July 6, 1951 Claimsi (Cl. 68-475) The present invention relates to the treatment of threads and more particularly to a liquid aftertreatment of a sheet or warp of closely spaced parallel rayon threads passing in a substantially horizontal plane through an open receptacle filled with a suitable liquid.

When a large number of threads are propelled through a liquid bath in closely spaced parallel relationship, e. g., spaced about 3-7 mm. apart, the adhesion'between the liquid and the thread will cause the liquid to flow in the same direction as that of the thread travel. The force of this flow will increase as the distance between the threads decreases and the speed of thread travel increases.

As a result of this phenomena, the flow of liquid is very irregular which adversely affects the physio-chemicalproperties of the finished thread. Furthermore, the liquid has a tendency to reverse its flow against the end walls of the receptacle whereby it flows in the opposite direction along the bottom and side walls thereof which increases the irregularity of the principal flow and gives rise to still more objectionable varying tensions the thread.

It is therefore an object of this invention to minimize these objectionable irregular flow characteristics and prevent the liquid from flowing countercurrent to the thread travel in that portion of the receptacle in which the threads move.

A further object of this invention is to provide a liquid treatment receptacle which is peculiarly adapted for effecting a uniform and constant flow of liquid in the direction of thread travel and without any backlash. of the liquid at the ends of the receptacle.

Another object of this invention is to conform the width of the receptacle to the width of the sheet of moving threads, 1.. e.,, the outermost threads adjacent the respective side walls are never spaced therefrom more than 1 cm.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the receptacle constructed in accordance with this invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1!) represents a flat sheet or warp of parallel threads that are passed to an open treating receptacle generally indicated at l l by any suitable means such as a system of rollers (not shown).

The threads Iii are guided to and around driven rollers 12 and 13 that are partially submerged in an appropriate liquid treating bath is which substantially fills the receptacle. The thread path is, therefore, one of substantially vertical entrance and exit to and from the bath while the warp is propelled through the bath in a horizontal direction.

In order to promote an orderly flow of the bath liquid in the direction of thread travel, there is provided an intermediate bottom I5 that extends horizontally of the receptacle slightly below the horizontal plane of the threads and slightly beyond the vertical planes of the threads. This intermediate bottom is supported from the side walls in such a manner as to avoid any disturbance of the flow of liquid therebeneath. Each end of the intermediate bottom it is rounded off to form thickened portions at it and I? which promotes a better circulation of the liquid.

Between end wall 18 and thickened portion is and between end wall l9 and thickened portion ii, there are disposed a series of generally concentric arcuate shaped bafiles 2B and 2| respectively. At each end of the receptacle, each baffle of its respective group, progressively decreases in radius of curvature from the end of the receptacle to the respective endof the intermediate bottom. As shown in the specific embodiment of Figure 2, there are several bafiles at each end of the receptacle thereby forming corresponding liquid channels. When the threads in are passing in the direction of the upper arrow, the liquid N above the intermediate bottom l5= flows in the same direction into and around the baiiles it, into the chamber 22 beneath the intermediate bottom [5 and thence into the bat-Hes 2-0 and up over the intermediate bottom 15 tocomplete the cycle and without any backlash against the ends or any disturbing influence around the sides. In order to enhance the liquid flow, the bafiles at each end are spaced farther apart at their inlet side than at their outlet side, viz., above the intermediate bottom at the right hand side and below the intermediate bottom at the left hand side as viewed in Figure 2.

Rollers l2 and it, which may be either positively driven or freely rotatable, are mounted for rotation in U-shaped recessed portions 2324 and 2526, respectively. These recesses are formed in double side walls 21 and 28 of receptacle II and prevent the threads at the extreme ends from running ofithe rollers.

In the event the warp' of threads is not as wide as the receptacle, a temporary movable partition 29 may be inserted adjacent the outermost threads along one side above the intermediate bottom as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, two such partitions may be employed at each side of the warp in order to guide the warp down the middle of the receptacle. In this manner the width of the warp always conforms with the effective width of the liquid in the receptacle and the distance between the outermost threads and respective side walls is never greater than 1 cm.

Fresh liquid is supplied through feed line 30 and enters the receptacle through openings 3|. The excess liquid flows over spillway 32 and is exhausted through discharge line 33, thereby maintaining a constant liquid level in the receptacle at all times.

It can be seen from the above description that by the use of the present apparatus an extremely uniform new of liquid in the direction of thread travel can be obtained and turbulence can be reduced to a minimum without resort to a complicated system. In order to promote the flow or liquid beneath the intermediate bottom positive propulsion may be provided in any known manner such as pumps, etc.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of a warp of moving threads comprising an open receptacle for containing a liquid, thread guiding rollers disposed in said receptacle, an intermediate bottom below the normal liquid level forming a liquid chamber in the lower portion of the receptacle and a series of generally concentric, arcuate shaped baflies at each end of the receptacle near the respective ends or" the intermediate bottom for directing the flow of liquid in a direction concurrent to the direction of thread travel above the intermediate bottom and for directing the flow of liquid in a direction counter-current to the direction of thread travel below the intermediate bottom.

2. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of a warp of moving threads comprising an open receptacle for containing a liquid, thread guiding rollers disposed in said receptacle, an intermediate bottom below the normal liquid level forming a liquid chamber in the lower portion of the receptacle and a series of generally concentric,

arcuate shaped baflles at each end of the receptacle near the respective ends of the intermediate bottom and progressively decreasing in radius of curvature from the ends of the receptacle toward the intermediate bottom for directing the flow of liquid in a direction concurrent to the direction of thread travel above the intermediate bottom and for directing the flow of liquid in a direction counter-current to the direction of thread travel below the intermediate bottom.

3. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of a moving warp of rayon threads comprising an open receptacle having double side walls provided with recesses, thread guiding rollers disposed in said recesses, an intermediate bottom below the normal liquid level forming a liquid chamber in the lower portion of the receptacle and curved baffles at each end of the receptacle near the respective ends of the intermediate bottom for directing the flow of liquid in a. direction concurrent to the direction of thread travel above the intermediate bottom and for directing the flow of liquid in a direction counter-current to the direction of thread travel below the intermediate bottom.

4. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of a warp of moving threads comprising an open receptacle for containing a liquid, thread guiding rollers disposed in said receptacle, an intermediate bottom below the normal liquid level forming a liquid chamber in the lower portion of the receptacle, curved bafiies at each end of the receptacle near the respective ends of the intermediate bottom for directing the flow of liquid in a direction concurrent to the direction of thread travel above the intermediate bottom and for directing the flow of liquid in a direction counter-current to the direction of thread travel below the intermediate bottom and a vertical, movable partition adjacent and parallel to the outermost threads at one side of the warp whereby the eiTective width of the liquid conforms with the width of the warp.

5. An apparatus for the liquid treatment of a warp of moving threads comprising an open receptacle for containing a liquid, thread guiding rollers disposed in said receptacle, an intermediate bottom below the normal liquid level forming a liquid chamber in the lower portion of the receptacle and a series of generally concentric, arcuate shaped bafiles at each end of the receptacle near the respective ends of the intermediate bottom, said bafiles being spaced farther apart at their inlet side than at their outlet side for directing the flow of liquid in a direction concurrent to the direction of thread travel above the intermediate bottom and for directing the flow of liquid in a direction counter-current to the direction of thread travel below the intermediate bottom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,516,268 Spalding s July 25 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 700,633 Germany Dec. 24, 1940 

